As we close in on the Thanksgiving Holiday I wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone of Small Business Saturday. I will be the first to admit I did not appreciate the small local businesses (other than my favorite quilt stores) until I opened up my own small business. I don’t even have a good excuse other than I have always lived in areas that were surrounded by the big box stores – and so that’s where I shopped.
Now that I own my own business I get the importance of supporting small businesses. When you think about it, the best way to improve your local economy is to keep your money local. When you buy from a small business a portion of your dollars go towards taxes that funds our transit systems and government. A portion of that dollar goes towards paying for local employees (a family member or neighbor perhaps) And, in my case, a portion of that dollar goes straight back to supporting the local schools and charities that support me in the form of gift certificates for fund raising efforts
I try to spend my dollars locally because I want my favorite shops to be around – the only way they can do that is with support. My favorite coffee shop is Sovereign Grounds, I buy my Avada at Rue48, I buy my flowers from Spruce, my bread from Turtle Bread. I don’t spend huge amounts of money, but I know that what I do spend is APPRECIATED!!
Last year I made a pledge to either make or buy all my Holiday gifts locally. By doing that I discovered SO many great local businesses and I felt such a sense of gratitude from all the small businesses I shopped at. I believe that when you do good things you open yourself up to the positive energy that comes with that. And I felt good about keeping my dollars local – so much so that I’m going to do it again this year.
I encourage you to join me. To help get you started, for Small Business Saturday Sewtropolis is having a party! That’s right… I have been so busy this month with all the new fabric we received that I haven’t had time to celebrate reaching my 3 year milestone! So, I’m doing it on Saturday. Stop by and test drive our new Pfaff sewing machines, give our new long-arm quilting machine a whirl, enter to win prizes, enjoy some cake and punch and most of all take advantage of our Small Business Saturday Gift with Purchase: a free Chinook Book (full of coupons for local business) with purchase of $100 or more (while supplies last).
And when you leave be sure to stop in and support the other local businesses in the neighborhood.
See you Saturday!
Nikol
Nikol–
Happy 3rd anniversary! I was just over in my old neighborhood, Nokomis, on Monday. I still miss it. I really miss all the small businesses I could visit by just walking out my door. Sigh.
Congratulations on 3 years Nikol and the gang! Well done!